Staff in Oxford Street Aleef's are despicably contemptuous towards members of the public. Tonight, after traveling to central Manchester to buy a postcard, I was yelled at across the store from behind the counter and told to hurry up as soon as I started selecting which card to buy. I asked how long I had and was told 5 or 10 minutes. Then I was told again to hurry up. I explained I didn't think that was very courteous. Repeatedly the man said what do you want? in reply to my simple question, What time do you close. He refused to tell me when the store normally closed.
After that I took my postcard to the till, firmly minded to ask the server's name and complain to Aleef directors. (That was before I knew Aleef directors are now in jail for fraud--google for it). Suspecting that he may not give his name, I hit on the idea of taking out my mobile and capturing his image as he served another customer. Job done. He raised his voice and angrily asked me what I was doing. Fair question. So I told him I was taking his picture so I could tell Aleef that he wouldn't tell me the closing time. Immediately he replied 8 o'clock. It was not yet 7:15.
What a surly and disgruntled lot! This incident alone has sullied them in my estimation for a long time. I will strongly resist buying there again, or at any other member of the chain, and I predict that in the long term they will have to radically change their attitude to customer service, at least at Oxford Street, or close. read more